气味甘寒，无毒。主治劳伤虚羸，补中益气，除瘀血血闭，寒热，利小便。
（茅草处处由田野有之，春生芽，布地如针，俗谓之茅针。其叶如矛，边有锋棱，又名
刀茅。茅有白茅、菅茅、黄茅、香茅、芭茅数种，叶皆相似白茅，根甚洁白，味甘如蔗，其
根柔软如筋，故一名地筋，干之夜视有光，故腐则变为萤火茅，叶可以苫盖，及供祭祀苞苴
之用。）
白茅色白味甘，上刚下柔，根多津汁，禀土金水相生之气化。主治劳伤羸瘦者，烦劳内
伤
，则津液不荣于外，而身体羸瘦。茅根禀水精而多汁，故治劳伤羸瘦。补中益气者，中土内
虚，则气不足。茅根禀土气而味甘，故能补中益气。除瘀血血闭者，肝气内虚，则血不荣经
，而为瘀血血闭之证。茅根禀金气而色白，故除瘀血血闭。肺金之气外达皮毛，则寒热自愈
。皮毛之气下输膀胱，则小便自利。
气味苦平，无毒。主治腰背强，机关缓急，周痹，寒湿膝痛，颇利老人。
（狗脊出常山川谷及太行山、淄青、眉州山野，处处有之。茎节如竹有刺，叶圆有赤脉，
两
两对生，边有锯齿，根形如狗之脊骨凸凹 ，金毛密布。李时珍曰∶狗脊有二种，一种根
黑色如狗脊骨，一种有金黄毛如狗形，皆名狗脊。《本经》一名百枚，以形名也，《别录》
一名强膂，一名扶筋，以功名也。）
狗脊根坚似骨，叶有赤脉，主利骨节而通经脉之药也。治腰背强，机关缓急，利骨节也。
血
脉
不和，则为周痹，或因于寒，或因于湿，皆能为痹。治周痹寒湿，通经脉也。又曰膝痛者，
言机关缓急，则膝亦痛。老人精血虚而机关不利，故颇利老人。
【白茅根】
气味甘寒，无毒。主治劳伤虚羸，补中益气，除瘀血血闭，寒热，利小便。
（茅草在田野各处都有生长，春天生出芽，铺展在地面上像针一样，俗称茅针。它的叶子像矛，边缘有锋棱，又名刀茅。茅草有白茅、菅茅、黄茅、香茅、芭茅几种，叶子都相似。白茅的根非常洁白，味道甜如甘蔗，根部柔软像筋腱，所以一名地筋，干燥后夜间看有光泽，腐烂后会变成萤火虫。茅叶可以用来苫盖屋顶，以及供奉祭祀用的苞苴。）
白茅色白味甘，上部刚硬下部柔顺，根部多津液汁水，禀受土、金、水相生之气化。主治劳伤羸瘦，是因为烦劳内伤，导致津液不能荣养于外，从而身体羸瘦。茅根禀受水之精微而多汁，所以治疗劳伤羸瘦。补中益气，是因为中焦脾胃内虚，则气不足。茅根禀受土气而味甘，所以能补中益气。除瘀血血闭，是因为肝气内虚，则血液不能荣养经脉，从而出现瘀血血闭的证候。茅根禀受金气而色白，所以能除瘀血血闭。肺金之气外达皮毛，则寒热自愈。皮毛之气下输膀胱，则小便自利。
【狗脊】
气味苦平，无毒。主治腰背强，机关缓急，周痹，寒湿膝痛，颇利老人。
（狗脊出产于常山川谷及太行山、淄青、眉州山野，各处都有。茎节像竹子但有刺，叶子圆形有红色脉络，两两对生，边缘有锯齿，根部形状像狗的脊骨凹凸不平，密布金色绒毛。李时珍说：狗脊有两种，一种根黑色像狗脊骨，一种有金黄毛像狗形，都叫狗脊。《本经》称一名百枚，是以形状命名；《别录》称一名强膂，一名扶筋，是以功效命名。）
狗脊根坚硬似骨，叶有赤脉，是主要利于骨节并通经脉的药物。治疗腰背强直，关节缓急不利，是利于骨节的作用。血脉不和，就会形成周痹，或因寒邪，或因湿邪，都能导致痹证。治疗周痹寒湿，是通经脉的作用。又说膝痛，是指关节缓急不利时，膝盖也会疼痛。老人精血虚亏而关节不利，所以狗脊对老人颇为有利。
[Bai Mao Gen (Rhizoma Imperatae)]
Flavor and nature: Sweet, cold. Non-toxic. Indications: Treats exhaustion injuries with emaciation, tonifies the middle and benefits Qi, removes blood stasis and blood obstruction, resolves alternating chills and fever, and promotes urination.
(Note: Cogon grass grows in fields everywhere. In spring, shoots emerge and spread on the ground like needles, commonly called "Mao Zhen" (Cattail Needle). Its leaves resemble spears, with sharp edges, also known as "Dao Mao" (Knife Grass). There are several types of cogon grass, including Bai Mao (White Cogon), Jian Mao, Huang Mao, Xiang Mao, and Ba Mao; their leaves are similar. The root of Bai Mao is very white, sweet like sugarcane, soft like tendons, hence another name "Di Jin" (Earth Tendon). When dry, it shines at night; when rotting, it transforms into fireflies. The leaves can be used for thatching roofs and for sacrificial wrappings.)
Bai Mao has a white color and sweet flavor, rigid above and soft below, with roots rich in juices, inheriting the transformative energy of Earth generating Metal, and Metal generating Water. It treats exhaustion injuries with emaciation because excessive labor causes internal injury, preventing body fluids from nourishing the exterior, leading to physical emaciation. Since Mao Gen inherits the essence of Water and is juicy, it treats exhaustion injuries with emaciation. To tonify the middle and benefit Qi: when the Middle Jiao (Spleen/Stomach) is internally deficient, Qi is insufficient. Since Mao Gen inherits the energy of Earth and has a sweet flavor, it can tonify the middle and benefit Qi. To remove blood stasis and blood obstruction: when Liver Qi is internally deficient, blood fails to nourish the meridians, resulting in conditions of blood stasis and blood obstruction. Since Mao Gen inherits the energy of Metal and is white in color, it removes blood stasis and blood obstruction. When Lung Metal Qi reaches the skin and hair externally, alternating chills and fever resolve spontaneously. When the Qi of skin and hair transmits downward to the Bladder, urination becomes smooth.
[Gou Ji (Rhizoma Cibotii)]
Flavor and nature: Bitter, neutral. Non-toxic. Indications: Treats stiffness of the waist and back, laxity or spasticity of joints, generalized Bi syndrome, knee pain due to cold-dampness, and is particularly beneficial for the elderly.
(Note: Gou Ji grows in valleys of Changshan mountains, Taihang Mountains, Ziqing, Meizhou, and wild areas, found everywhere. The stem nodes resemble bamboo but have thorns; leaves are round with red veins, opposite each other, with serrated edges. The root shape resembles the convex-concave spine of a dog, densely covered with golden hairs. Li Shizhen said: There are two types of Gou Ji; one has black roots like a dog's spine, the other has golden hairs resembling a dog form; both are named Gou Ji. The *Shennong Ben Cao Jing* calls it "Bai Mei" by shape; the *Bencao Jingjiu Jia Zhu* calls it "Qiang Lv" and "Fu Jin" by efficacy.)
Gou Ji roots are hard like bone, and leaves have red veins; it is a herb that primarily benefits bone joints and unblocks meridians. Treating stiffness of the waist and back and joint laxity/spasticity benefits the bone joints. Blood and vessel disharmony leads to generalized Bi syndrome; whether caused by Cold or Dampness, all can cause Bi syndromes. Treating generalized Bi syndrome and cold-dampness unblocks the meridians. It is also stated that knee pain refers to joint dysfunction causing knee pain. The elderly suffer from deficiency of Essence and Blood and joint dysfunction, so Gou Ji is particularly beneficial for them.